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Family wants Charlotte police shooting video released publicly

City under state of emergency after two nights of protests, 'civilian-on-civilian' shooting

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Updated: 7:51 PM EDT Sep 22, 2016

WCNC

Keith Lamont Scott

SOURCE: WCNC

Family wants Charlotte police shooting video released publicly

City under state of emergency after two nights of protests, 'civilian-on-civilian' shooting

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Updated: 7:51 PM EDT Sep 22, 2016

CHARLOTTE, N.C. —

An attorney representing the family of a man shot at the hands of Charlotte police has asked the department to publicly release two videos of the incident "immediately."

Justin Bamberg vouched for the release in a statement Thursday evening in the case of Keith Lamont Scott, 43. Bamberg said it was "incredibly difficult" for the Scott family to see the videos, but the family wanted them released anyway "as a matter of the greater good and transparency."

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Charlotte police Kerr Putney has maintained he will not release dashcam and body camera footage of Scott's killing, saying it could undermine the investigation. He told reporters the video will be made public when he believes there is a "compelling reason" to do so.

Gov. Pat McCrory said he agreed with Putney's position not to release the video. SBI officials said Thursday that they have begun an independent investigation following a request from the Mecklenburg County district attorney.

Bamberg's statement said the family has "more questions than answers" after seeing the videos. Bamberg said officers did give Scott several commands. However, Bamberg said Scott exited his vehicle in a "very calm, non-aggressive manner" and did not aggressively approach officers or raise his hands.

"It is impossible to discern from the videos what, if anything, Mr. Scott is holding in his hands," the statement continued. "When he was shot and killed, Mr. Scott's hands were by his side and he was slowly walking backwards."

Bamberg said during a news conference earlier Thursday that Scott's wife saw him get shot, "and that's something she will never, ever forget."

Putney told reporters Thursday morning that the video does not contain "absolute, definitive evidence that would confirm that a person was pointing a gun." But he added: "When taken in the totality of all the other evidence, it supports what we said."

Police have said that Scott was shot to death Tuesday by a black officer after he disregarded loud, repeated warnings to drop his gun. Neighbors, though, have said he was holding only a book. The police chief said a gun was found next to the dead man, and there was no book.

Demonstrators have been demanding answers in Scott's killing, with some carrying signs that read "Release the tapes." Bamberg said the family urges any protesters to remain peaceful.

In a second straight night of unruly protests, scores of rioters Wednesday night attacked reporters and others, set fires and smashed windows of hotels, office buildings and restaurants in the city's bustling downtown section. The NASCAR Hall of Fame was among the places damaged.

Forty-four people were arrested after Wednesday night's events, and one protester was shot and critically wounded. City officials said police did not shoot the man.

An undisclosed number of National Guardsmen assembled in Charlotte after Gov. Pat McCrory declared a state of emergency in the city. North Carolina state troopers and U.S. Justice Department conflict-resolution experts also were sent to the city to keep the peace.

Three of Charlotte's major employers — Bank of America, Wells Fargo and Duke Energy — told thousands of employees Thursday not to venture into the city. Hours before nightfall Thursday, Putney said he saw no need for a curfew.

The plainclothes officer who shot Scott, Brently Vinson, was not wearing a camera. He has been placed on leave, standard procedure in such cases. Vinson is black.

Charlotte is just the latest U.S. city to be shaken by protests and recriminations over the death of a black man at the hands of police, a list that includes Baltimore, Milwaukee, Chicago, New York, and Ferguson, Missouri.

In Tulsa, Oklahoma, on Thursday, prosecutors charged a white officer with manslaughter for killing an unarmed black man on a city street last week.